Communicating Across Cultures

Margaret Mead If you are going to achieve richer culture, rich in contrasting

values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human personalities,…in which each diverse human gift will find a

fitting place.

Background – Southern America

• One of the most diverse places in the country• Most states in the south are growing in population• Predicted to not have a majority

Human Scrabble• 27 Volunteers• Piece of Paper• Something to Write With• The object of the game is for individuals to mix and mingle and

put their sheet together with as many other individuals to create a word.

Human Scrabble continued• As word are made, each participant will keep track of their own points.

For each letter in the word that you create with other individuals, each person who contributes gets that number points. • For example, if three participants have the letters D O G, they would

each get three points for spelling the word DOG!!

So What?•How did those who got lots of points feel when they saw the letter they were given?•What about those with few points?•How did people respond to those with the “Q” and “Z”?•How does this activity relate to real life?•What are situations that you have been in where this type of thing happens?•Are we including everyone?

What is Culture?

• A way of life• Shared beliefs, values, and norms• Nothing in our lives is free of culture• Fundamentally instilled in people from birth• Integrated, dynamic systems

“High Context” vs. “Low Context” Cultures• Hall (1976) describes as being either high or low context cultures• High – have strong interpersonal bonds and extensive networks with

members of their in-group.• Low – compartmentalize their personal relationships; they prefer lots of

background information

General Examples of Context Cultures

•High•Japanese•Chinese•Korean•African American

•Low•German•Scandinavian•American•English

Nonverbal Communication

• Happens unconsciously• It is a silent language• Rules and norms that govern nonverbal communication behaviors are

culture-specific (Fritz et al. (2005).• Include: body movements, how people orient themselves, what they

wear, eye contact, touch, and voice inflection.

The Face, Hands, Touch

• Face – primary transmitter of emotional cues (Happy, sad, frustrated)• Hand – hand movement is primary means of showing intensity• Touch – Hall (1983) says it is the most fundamental part of the human

experience. Include such things as hugging, kissing, shaking hands, and clasping shoulders.• High context cultures – touch is an intrinsic part of communication• Low context cultures – NOT intrinsic part of communication

Space

•How much space do people need?•High Context Cultures – prefer close distances

when speaking to one another• Low Context Cultures – prefer far away distances

when speaking to one another•Most common misunderstanding of

communication across cultures.

Cross Cultural CompetenceSamover and Porter (1995)

•Know yourself and your own cultural makeup•Consider the physical and human settings•Seek to understand diverse message systems•Develop and display empathy•Encourage and provide feedback•Develop communication flexibility•Avoid stereotyping and prejudice

Cross Cultural CompetenceSamover and Porter (1995) continued

•Be aware of consequences•Seek commonalities•Recognize the validity of differences•Communicate respect•Be nonjudgmental•Tolerate ambiguity•Be aware of individual differences

PART 2

“Habitual thinking need not be forever. One of the most significant findings in psychology in the last 20 years is that individuals can choose the way they think.”

- Martin Seligman, Ph.D.

Williams (2001) says we all look at the world through our own spectacles

These lenses are how we view differences in:• Culture• Ethnicity• Nationality• Race• People in general• Regions in America

How do we develop our lenses?

Legacies + Layers = Lenses

Legacies – Powerful Historical Events that shape our views of the world.

Layers – Unchangeable Life Experiences

Which lenses do you see through?

AssimilationistIncorporate, Absorb, Fit In, Standardize----------“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”----------Subcultures should adopt the lifestyles, values, customs and languages of

the dominant/majority culture.

ColorblindSightless, Unseeing, Inattentive to

appearance----------“When I see you, I see a person, and nothing

else.”----------All men and women are created equal

CulturalcentristCore, Heart, Focal, Central----------“My Culture is central to my personal and public

identity.”---------- People that are not of the dominant culture should

detach from this dominant culture to survive, rebuild, and maintain their cultural norms.

ElitistPrivileged, Select Few, Superior,

Predetermined----------“Membership has its privileges.”----------Lineage and innate qualities and abilities

entitle some members of the culture to be advantaged within society.

IntegrationistMix, Incorporate, Combine----------“ Ebony and Ivory live together on my piano

keys … shouldn’t we?”----------We can achieve greater equality and

understanding through working, living and socializing side by side.

MeritocratistDeserve, Worthy of, Earned, Accomplished----------“Cream rises to the top.”----------Opportunity should be based only on an

individual’s initiative, competence and accomplishments.”

MulticulturalistMany, Varied, Mixed, Choices----------“The more cultural diversity, the better.”----------We are enriched by the diversity of cultures

in our country. Our future success is based on allowing each of our cultures to contribute to the mosaic.

SeclusionistIsolate, Disconnect, Protect, Fragment,

Partition----------“Birds of a feather flock together.”----------It is best for our culture to remain separate

from other cultures to preserve our position and control.

TranscendentRise Above, Sacred, Inspire----------“There’s really only one race – the human

race.”----------Our common divine origin transcends

cultural identity.

Victim/CaretakerInjured, Persecuted, Abused, Exploited----------“We shall overcome.”----------People of different cultures are

systematically victimized by the dominant culture and exploited in ways that have crippled their opportunity to be successful.